I&B Ministry
I&B ministry mulls panel to take ‘tough’ look at DTH
NEW DELHI: India’s information and broadcasting ministry proposes to set up a committee to look into the regulatory framework for the KU-band DTH sector and possibly suggest more stringent measures.
The step is being envisaged in the wake of a public interest litigation that has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking directions from the court to the government to review DTH operations in the country in the absence of a proper regulatory framework and access to porn stuff through such a network.
The proposed panel would be headed by I&B ministry secretary Naveen Chawla and is likely to have some representation from other ministries too, including law and home.
However, some industry observers described this proposed government panel as another step towards controlling of the media and taking steps to promote Indian pubcaster Doordarshan, which is set to launch a KU-band DTH service, but is finding it difficult to market it commercially in the absence of popular entertainment channels on the platform.
Earlier this month, during the first hearing of the PIL, filed by the Delhi-based Centre for Media Studies chairman N Bhaskara Rao, also considered close to I&B ministry Jaipal Reddy, the court directed the government to revert within a month’s time with a detailed reply on the issues raised by the petitioner.
At the moment, apart from the proposed DD venture, there is only one DTH service operational in the country and that is promoted by Subhash Chandra companies under the brand name Dish TV. An application from Tata-Star combine seeking a licence for a DTH service is still pending with the I&B ministry, despite having clearances from other places, including the home ministry.
Petitioner Rao, who has pointed fingers at the usual suspects like national security, has stated that “the security clearances given” by the government to respondent No. 4 to the case (Dish TV) for starting a DTH service is “not at all foolproof and many compromises are being made at the cost of national security.”
Pointing out that the existing security clearance procedure needs review and tightening so as also to protect India’s cultural heritage.
Rao in his petition has further stated that the existing DTH guidelines have been framed with the backing of a national policy and are not at all adequate and foolproof, especially against facilitating in accessing pornographic channel/content by a subscriber of a DTH service and also in the transmission of secret messaging and possible misuse of communication channel by terrorist groups.
I&B Ministry
Digital radio, D2M tech set to reshape broadcasting and public messaging
Govt pushes next-gen delivery while TRAI tightens grip on spam ecosystem
NEW DELHI: India’s broadcasting and telecom landscape is undergoing a quiet but significant upgrade, with digital radio and Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technologies emerging as powerful tools for mass communication, while regulators step up efforts to tackle spam calls.
According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, digital radio and D2M are poised to transform how content reaches audiences by making more efficient use of spectrum. In simple terms, multiple channels can now be delivered over a single frequency, opening the door to a wider range of free-to-air content.
D2M technology takes this a step further by enabling video, audio and data to be broadcast directly to mobile handsets without relying on SIM cards or mobile data. The result is a resilient and cost-effective data pipe that can deliver everything from entertainment and education to critical emergency alerts, even in low-connectivity scenarios.
At the same time, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is tightening its grip on unsolicited commercial communication, better known as spam calls. The regulator has deployed a distributed ledger technology platform to bring transparency and accountability into the system.
Through this blockchain-based setup, consumers can register their preferences on receiving promotional messages, while businesses and telemarketers must also sign up and operate within defined rules. The platform also includes a complaint mechanism that allows users to report spam, with complaints shared across telecom operators for coordinated action.
The government’s broader push is being supported by infrastructure upgrades under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development scheme. Implemented through Prasar Bharati, the initiative focuses on modernising networks such as Akashvani and Doordarshan, including digitisation and adoption of next-generation broadcast equipment.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting minister of state for information and broadcasting L. Murugan said these steps are part of a larger effort to promote emerging technologies and strengthen the country’s broadcasting backbone. The response came to a query raised by member of Parliament Rao Rajendra Singh.
Together, these developments point to a dual-track strategy: expanding access to reliable, low-cost content while cleaning up the communication ecosystem. As digital pipes get smarter and spam filters sharper, India’s airwaves may soon feel a lot less noisy and far more useful.
